switchpoint

Accounting · independent consultants · 2026

Best accounting
for consultants

Consultants want a tight, low-overhead stack that bills cleanly per project and doesn't bloat as engagements come and go.

Top pick

Wave

Free accounting for very small businesses.

Picked for consultants because it light enough to adopt in a day.

Try Wave

The full shortlist

All 4 picks

  1. 1

    Wave

    Free accounting for very small businesses.

    Free accounting. Paid Pro from $16/mo.

    Picked for consultants because it light enough to adopt in a day.

    Pros

    • Free core features
    • Easy to start

    Trade-offs

    • Limited reporting
    Visit Wave
  2. 2

    QuickBooks

    Dominant SMB accounting software in North America.

    From $30/mo Simple Start.

    Picked for consultants because it light enough to adopt in a day.

    Pros

    • Ubiquitous with US accountants
    • Mature payroll add-on

    Trade-offs

    • Aggressive price hikes
    • Clunky UI
    Visit QuickBooks
  3. 3

    Xero

    Cloud accounting with a cleaner UI and global reach.

    From $20/mo.

    Picked for consultants because it light enough to adopt in a day.

    Pros

    • Modern UI
    • Great app ecosystem

    Trade-offs

    • US payroll less mature
    Visit Xero
  4. 4

    FreshBooks

    Invoicing-first accounting for service businesses.

    From $19/mo.

    Picked for consultants because it a solid fit for consultants.

    Pros

    • Best-in-class invoicing
    • Time tracking

    Trade-offs

    • Less suited to inventory
    Visit FreshBooks

Questions

FAQ

What's the best accounting for consultants?

Wave. Picked for consultants because it light enough to adopt in a day.

Is there a free option?

Yes — several picks have free tiers. Start with Wave.

How was this list ranked?

We re-rank each category against the buying criteria of independent consultants: pricing, integrations, simplicity, and privacy. No 50-tool listicles. No fake winners.